A Report on Chronic Pain in the US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports findings from the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey of chronic pain and high impact chronic pain—defined as frequently limiting work/life activities—among adult Americans in 2019. Survey findings include:

• 20.4% of adults report chronic pain
• 7.4% of adults report high impact chronic pain
• Pain among adults: non-Hispanic whites=23.6%; non-Hispanic blacks=19.3%; Hispanics=13.0%; non-Hispanic Asians=6.8%
• Women had more pain than men
• Pain increased with age
• People in rural areas had higher pain levels

People were asked: “In the past 3 months, how often did you have pain? Would you say never, some days, most days, or every day?” and “Over the past 3 months, how often did your pain limit your life or work activities? Would you say never, some days, most days, or every day?” Percentages are are based on household interviews of the civilian noninstitutionalized population.

To access all the findings, click here.

Other Categories:

• gender differences

• pain diagnostics

• pain policy